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63d Congress, { HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J Document 
Sid Session. \ 1 No. 463. 



STUDY AND INVESTIGATION OF BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG 
CHOLERA PLAGUES. 



LETTER 

FROM 

THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, 



TRANSMITTING 



INFORMATION REGARDING THE STUDY AND INVESTIGATION OF 
THE BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES, AS DIRECTED 
IN HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 254, D TED SEPTEMBER 16, 1913. 



December 10, 1913. — Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and ordered to be 

printed . 



Department of Agriculture, 

Office of the Secretary, 

Washington, D. C, December 3, 1913. 
Dear Mr. Speaker: Complying with House Resolution No. 254, 
dated September 16, 1913, directing the Secretary of Agriculture to 
communicate to the House of Representatives a full report as to the 
methods used, results thus far secured, and the amount of money 
expended m the study and investigation of the boll weevil and hog 
cholera plagues, I have the honor to transmit the report called for 
herewith. This report consists of statements from the three bureaus 
of the Department which carried on the investigations in question; 
that is, the Bureau of Animal Industry on hog cholera and the 
bureaus of Plant Industry and Entomology on the boll weevil. 
Very respectfully, 

D. F. Houston, Secretary, 
The Speaker of the House. 



The Work of the Bureau of Plant Industry in Connection 
WITH THE Cotton Boll Weevil from 1904 to 1913, Inclusive. 

The work of the Bureau of Plant Industry in connection mth the 
boll wevil was begun in 1904 under the act of January 15 of that 
year making appropriations for the Department of Agriciiiture, which 



2 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. C^ ^'5» 

included an appropriation "to meet th(> enioi'p:oncy caused b}' the 
I'avages of the Alexican cotton holl weevil and other insects and dis- 
eases airectino; cotton. AVhile the work incident to carrying out the 
intent of the act was distril)uted among several of the divisions of the 
bureau, the branches now known as Farmers' Cooperative Demonstra- 
tion Work and Acclimatization and Adaptation of Croj) Plants and 
Cotton Breeding were specially charged with carrying on the work. 
In the case of the former ])i'a!ich the primary objects of its work were 
to prove that cotton could be grown with profit notwithstanding the 
presence of the boll weevil and to persuade the growers to adopt the 
cultural methods and means of control necessary to that end, and in 
the case of the latter to produce better types of early maturing 
varieties of cotton, adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the 
boll weevil infested territory, the planting of early maturhig varieties 
being a factor of great impoi'tance in reducing the ravages of the 
weevil. 

WorJc of the Office of Farmers' Cooperative Demonstrations. — Imme- 
diately after the passage of the act above referred to steps were 
taken to inaugurate the work, the first being the establishment of 
headquarters at Houston, Tex. The plan followed was to establish 
cotton ctilture or cotton demonstration farms. These consisted of 
from 5 to 25 acres, and were selected near the principal town in each 
county so that the cooperation of business men in furnishing seed 
and fertilizers could be secured. Arrangements were entered into 
with the owners of these farms where])y thej" agreed, in consideration 
of the seed and fertilizers furnished by the business men, to prepare 
and cultivate the land under the direction of the Department of Agri- 
culture. After the first two or three years the plan of supphang seed 
and fertilizers was abandoned, and thereafter the farmers carried on 
the work without any compensation and with no guaranty on the 
part of the department except that they would receive full instruc- 
tion through its agents. Other farmers who were willing to follow 
the methods as laid down by the department were enrolled as coop- 
erators and instructions furnished them by mail. By the end of the 
yenT several hundred of these cotton-culture farms were established 
and several thousand cooperators enrolled. Supervision of the farms 
was exercised by the department's field agents, each agent covering 
a territory eml)racing from 8 to 15 counties. 

During the years 1904 and 1905 the work was confined to Texas 
and Louisiana, but in 1906 it was carried into Arkansas and Okla- 
homa and inaugurated in Mississippi, Alabama, and Virginia, the 
plan being to carry it on in weevil-infested territory and in sections 
which the weevil was expected to reach within a year or two. 

Realizing that the problem of meeting the ravages of the boll 
weevil embraced not only the growing of cotton, but also the ques- 
tion of making the farm self-su})porting, the provisions of the act 
making appropriations were broadened for the work of the fiscal 
year 1906 so as to include diversification of crops and the improve- 
ment of cro])s by breeding and selection in the Southern States and 
subsequently to cover improved cultural methods and the study of 
cotton diseases, and the scope of the work was correspondingly 
broadened, demonstrations being made in the growing of corn, cow- 
peas, and other crops, and farmers encouraged to raise more and 
r)etter live stock. 

0. OF 0. 

0£C 19 '1318 



.^> 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 



The county unit plan of organization adopted in 1908 and followed 
at the present time was inaugurated in 1907, local br county agents 
being ap))ointed in one or two counties where local cooperation in 
})ayhig the salaries of the agents was volunteered. Under this 
county unit plan the county agent establishes and supervises demon- 
stration farms in each county and enlists as cooperators all other 
farmers who agree to follow the department's instructions. 

The boys' corn clubs, now such an important factor in southern 
agriculture, and the gu-ls' canning clubs, which are supervised by the 
department and financed by the general education board, were or- 
ganized in 1907 and 1910, respectively. These two organizations 
have proved potent forces in promoting better methods of farming, 
diversification of crops, and the production of home supplies — all 
necessary factors in adapting southern agriculture to boll-weevil 
conditions. 

By the close of the fiscal year 1913 the boll-weevil work had been 
enlarged so as to include Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, 
Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Floritla, Georgia, South Carolina, 
North Carolina, Virginia, and a portion of Maryland, with a force of 
932 agents and approximately 102,708 adult demonstrators and co- 
operators, 91,196 members of the boys' corn clubs, and 33,060 mem- 
bers of the girls' canning clubs. 

The work begun in Mississippi, Alabama, and Virginia in 1906 was 
at first carried on under a cooj^erative arrangement with the general 
education board of New York, by the terms of which the board fur- 
nished the necessary funds, and the department supervised and con- 
trolled the work. Under similar arrangements the work was later 
taken up in the States farther east. The policy of the department 
in regard to the use of the Government appropriation and the appro- 
priation by the general education board was to use the former for 
the work in the weevil mfested and adjoining States and the latter 
for the work in the cotton growing States more remote from weevil 
infestation. As a result of this policy the work at the end of the past 
fiscal year was carried on with Government funds in Texas, Oklahoma, 
Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and 
south Georgia, and with the funds of the general education board in 
north Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and a portion of 
Maryland, the amount being $133,000. 

The agricultural colleges and other educational forces m the States 
in which the work with boll weevil is in progress are in close coopera- 
tion with the department in carrymg on demonstrations, and tnese, 
and the States, counties, boards of trade, agricultural associations, 
and private citizens contribute annually over $200,000 toward 
maintaining the agents and otherwise promoting the work. 

Worlc of the Office of Acclimatization and AdajAation of Crop Plants 
and Cotton Breeding Investigations. — As previously stated, the grow- 
ing of early-maturing varieties of cotton is an important factor m 
controlling the boll weevil. With a view to meeting the urgent 
demand for such early-maturing varieties, which would at the same 
time produce large yields, large bolls, good length of staple, and other 
desirable characteristics, this branch inaugurated extensive breeding 
and selection experiments, establishing headquarters, with a well-" 
equi])ped laboratory, at Waco, Tex. This work was begun in 1904 
and continued until 1908. Through these experiments several valu- 



4 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 

able varieties, having desirable characteristies, were secured and the 
seed of these varieties wns distributed to farmers, and now these 
early-niaturing-, lar^^e-yiehlinu-, and laro^e-boll cottons liave almost 
entirely su])ers(>d('(l (he inferior types form(>rIy g;r()wn in tli(^ l)oll- 
weevil-iiifest(>d tc>rritorv. 

This branch also studied cotton culture in weevil-infested districts 
in Mexico and Central America and discovered several new ty])es of 
U})land cotton that afford partial protection ao;ainst the weevil through 
specialized a(la])tive characters and habits of growth. As there had 
been no previous knowledge of the existence of such characters, the 
publication of these discoveries encouraged fui'ther investigation 
of the possibilities of utilizing them in the I nited States either by 
direct introduction of some of the best of the foreign types or by 
crossing with American I ]dand varieti(^s. Some of the new tro})ical 
cottons behaved under their native conditions like early, productive 
Vpland varieties, and yi(dded lint of excelhnt (luality. Experi- 
mental plantings in Texas and other States showed that a ])eriod of 
acclimatization would be necessary before an}' final conclusion could 
be reached regarding the possibilities of the new types in the United 
States. 

Since 1908 these investigations have been continued as a regular 
part of the investigations of this branch and are now yielding results 
of great practical imjiortance. Four new types of cotton from 
Mexico and Guatemala have been acclimatized in the I nited States 
and are being improved by careful breedmg of select strains. In 
addition to the specialized weevil resistant characters, the new 
varieties afford valuable combinations of characters everywhere 
recognized as most desirable for purj oses of producing earliness, 
prockictiveness, large bolls, long fiber, and abundant lint. 

One (if these varieties, the Durango cotton from Mexico, has been 
widely (,istril)uted in the United States and received with nu'ch 
favor, and is coning to be rec( gnized as the best early maturing 
variety ( f long staple Upland cottcn nc w available. It is adapted 
to the widest range rf natural cone iticns and is giving excellent 
results, even at the extren es of cotton cidture in the Imperial Valley 
of California, at Ncrf( Ik, Va., and in the intervening regions. If its 
present pron ise is sustained this single variety will abundantly repay 
the entire erst (f all the expenc itures n ade by the department on 
account of the weevil investigatie ns. 

Another line of investigation suggested b}^ facts learned in the 
study ( f the weevil-resisting achiptatie ns < f the cotton plant has led 
to the develcpn ent (f improved cultural methods (f securing protec- 
tion against weevil injury. These inrprovements are of two kinds, 
th( se that make it pessible to grow in drier parts cf the Southwest, 
where the clinatic conc'ith ns are unfavorable for the propagation of 
the weevils, and th( se that n ake it pc ssible to sherten the crop 
seastm. Such problen s as the relati( n < f drought to weevil resist- 
ance and the local adjustn ent ( f varieties to secure uniform behavior 
and large ^aelds have been worked out. Several dilferent factors 
have been found to contribute to earliness, which, as previously 
stated, is recognized as one of the most important means of avoiding 
weevil injury. At first it was supposed that earliness could be meas- 
ured directly by dates of flowering and that only the early flowering 
varieties could be grown in weevil-infested regions, but experiments 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLEEA PLAGUES. 5 

have shown that the most effective form of earhness is the setting of 
the crop in the shortest period of time, and that big-boUed varieties 
can be used under weevil conditions. 

A new appUcation of great agricultural importance is based on the 
recognition of the fact that the cotton plant has two distinct kinds of 
branches. Experiments have shown that it is possible to control the 
habits of growth and secure increased earliness of the crop as well as 
larger yiekls by suppressing the vegetative branches, and methods of 
accomplishing these objects have been worked out. The results of 
experiments in different parts of the United States show that earUer 
crops and increased yields, in some cases to the extent of 50 per cent, 
are secured by the use of these improved methods. 

Wo7']c of other hranches of the bureau. — With the advent of the boll 
weevil practical means of controlUng certain special diseases of cotton, 
particularly root rot and wilt, which cause great losses annually to 
growers, became an urgent necessity, and special studies and inves- 
tigations of these diseases were therefore begun by the Office of Cotton 
and Truck Disease Investigations. Tliis work was inaugurated in 
1904 and continued until 1908. In the case of the root rot, careful 
laboratory investigations of the causative organisms and extensive 
field experiments were made with a view to securing immune cotton, 
determining the beneficial effect of the application of various chem- 
icals, and discovering cultural methods of checking the disease. 
These investigations developed the fact that the only practical means 
of controlling the disease is tlii'ough the practice of certain cultural 
methods, including deep fall plowing, thorough aeration of the soil, 
and rotation of crops. 

Studies and investigations of wilt were carried on in Georgia and 
other Southern States, the primary object being to breed wilt- 
resistant cotton of both the upland and long-staple varieties. Tests 
of great numbers of varieties were made for mlt resistance, and, as 
a final result of the work, two strains of mlt-resistant upland cotton 
were bred and the seed widely distributed, and these varieties are 
rapidly replacing others in the infested districts. 

The San Antonio Farm, consisting of 125 acres, leased from the 
city of San Antonio, Tex., and conducted by the Office of Western 
Irrigation Agriculture, was estabhshed in 1904 as a part of the cam- 
paign against the boll weevil. Various studies and experiments 
relating to the production of cotton and the control of the boll 
weevil under semiarid conditions were' conducted on this farm. 
The work demonstrated that profitable crops of cotton could be 
produced mth very low rainfall, and that under average conditions, 
with good methods of tillage, excellent crops of cotton could be pro- 
duced in this section every year. 

During the fiscal year 1908 the Office of Forage Crop Investiga- 
tions carried on some work in the South \\dth a view to encouraging 
the greater use of winter legumes, especially crimson clover and 
vetch, and also some experimental work in testing soy beans for 
hay and as a seed crop in th3 South. 

With a view to awakening interest in better methods of farming 
and encouraging the introduction of new crops and different types 
of farming in the Southern States as a means of combating' the 
ravages of the weevil, the Office of Farm JSIanagement organized 
and conducted from .30 to 50 diversification farms, most of which 



6 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 

were in the weevil-iiifcsted States of Texas, Arkansas, and Loui- 
siana. This work was begun in 1904 and continued until 1908. The 
general plan pursued was to select the most successful farms of the 
type desired and arrange \\ath the owner for general supervision 
for a detailed record for a period of years, and for the holding of 
farmers' institutes on the farm in cooperation with regular institute 
workers in the various States. The supervisor of the district visited 
the farms periodically and looked after the records, copies of which 
were furnished the Bureau of Plant Industry and the experiment 
station in the State where the farms were located. Each mrm was 
devoted to a distinct type of farming, the principal types being 
truck farming, mixed farming, stock farming, dairying, hog raising, 
and beef production. 

Much was expected from this work, but the results were disap- 
pointing, and the work was abandoned. It was found that no mat- 
ter how well conducted these farms failed to accomplish the purpose 
for which they were organized, and that the single large demonstra- 
tion or object-lesson farm exerts but httle influence on the methods 
or farm practice of the farmers. Although the work failed in its 
primary object, much ^ood resulted from it through the collection 
and dissemination of information regarding forage crops, winter 
cover crops, cropping systems, and better methods of farm man- 
agement adapted to southern conditions, and the consequent pro- 
motion of crop diversification and introduction of new crops. 

Publications. — Next in importance to the field demonstrations as 
a means of disseminating knowledge regarding the methods of com- 
bating the boU weevil and incidental information comes the pubU- 
cations issued as a result of the work and widely distributed in the 
cotton-o:rowing sections. The following is a list of those issued by 
the various ollices of the bureau mentioned in connection with this 
work : 

OFFICE OK farmers' COOPERATIVE DEMONSTRATION WORK. 

Circular No. — 

A-51. Field Instructions for Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration Work. Feb- 
ruarv, 1908. Revised April, 1908. 

A-52. Farm Fertilizers. March. 1908. Revised March, 1910. 

A-58. Familiar Talks on Farming — Cultivation of the Crop. April 15, 1908. 

A-59. Farm Fertilizers. April, 1908. 

A-60. Familiar Talks on Farming — More Teams and (Jreater Economv. April, 
1908. 

A-61. Familiar Talks on Farming — Cotton ("ro]) nnd^r Boll A\'ee\-il Conditions. 
May 1, 1908. 

A-62. Familiar Talks on Farming — Diversification. June 30. 1908. 

A-63. Seed Selection for Southern Farms. Julv, 1908. 

A-64. Deep Fall Plowing and the Seed lied. October, 1908. 

A-65. Farm P>rtilizers. Fehruarv, 1909. Revised Mardi. 1910. 

A-66. Farm Not(>s. The Corn Crop. June, 1909. 

A-67. The Selection of Cotton and Corn Seed for Southern Farms. June, 1909. 

A-68. Fall Breaking and the Pre])aration of the Seed Bed. March, 1910. 

A-69. Field Instructions for Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration Work. Janu- 
ary, 1912. 

A-70. Southern Farm Notes. The Com Crop. March, 1910. 

A-71. The Production of Cotton under Boll Weevil Cimditions. .Tanuarv. 1911. 
Revised June, 1911. 

A-72. Farm Fertilizers. January, 1911. 

A-73. Cro])s for Southern Farms. The Corn Crop. December, 1910. 

A-74. Boys' Demonstration Work: The (^orn (lubs. Organization and Instruc- 
tion. March 4, 1911. Revised A])ril, 1912, and March, 1913. 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLEEA PLAGUES. . 

Circular No. Coutinued. 

A-75. Results of Bovti' Demons! lai ion Work in Corn Clubs (in 1910) (in 1911) 

April, 1911, "and Mav, 1912. 
A-76. The Corn Crop. February, 1911. 
A-77. Farm Fertilizers. August. 1911. 
A-78. An Effective Method of Preventine the Erosion of Hill Lands. Deceml)er, 

1911. 
A-79. Girls' Demonstration \A'ork: The ("anning ("lubs. January, 1912. Revised 

Januarv, 1913. 
A-80. The Corn Crop in the Southern States. March, 1912. 
Field Instructions for Farmers' Cooperati^'e Demonstration Work in Western Texas 

and Oklahoma. November. 1913. 
Bureau of Plant Industry Document No. 865. Results of Demonstration Work in 

Boys' and Girls' Clubs in 1912. NoA'ember, 1913. 
Bureau of Plant Industrj- Circular No. 21. Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration 

Work in Its Relation to Rural Improvement. December, 1908. 
Office of Secretary Circular No. 30. Hog Raising in the South. September, 1909. 
Office of Secretary Circular No. 33. The Mission of Cooperative Demonstratiou 

Work in the South. November, 1910. 
Bureau of Plant Industry Document No. 756. Emergency Crops for Overflowed 
Lands in the Mississippi Valley. May, 1912. 

OFFICE OF ACCLIMATIZATIOX AND ADAPTATION OP CROP PLANTS AND COTTON-BREEDING 

INVESTIGATIONS . 

Bureau of Plant Industrv: 
Bulletin No.— 

88. Weevil-Resisting Adaptations of the Cotton Plant. 1906. 
159. Local Adjustment of Cotton Varieties. 1909, 
220. Relation of Drought to Weevil Resistance in Cotton, 1911. 
222. Arrangement of Parts in the Cotton Plant. 1911. 
Circular No. — 

66, Cotton Selection on the Farm bv the Characters of the Stalks, Leaves, 

and Bolls. 1910. 
96, Results of Cotton Experiments in 1912. 
Ill, Durango Cotton in the Imperial Valley. 1913. 
115. A New System of Cotton Culture. 1913. 
118. The Abortion of Fruiting Branches in Cotton. 1913. 
130. Cotton Problems in Louisiana. 1913. 
132. Cotton Farming in the Southwest. 1913. 
Farmers' Bulletin No. 501, Cotton Improvement under Weevil Conditions. 1912, 
Yearbook Article on Cotton Improvement on a Community Basis. 1911. 

OFFICE OF COTTON AND TRUCK DISEASE INVESTIGATIONS, 

Farmers' Bulletin No, — : 

302. Sea Island Cotton: Its Culture. Improvement, and Diseases. 1909, 
333, Cotton Wilt. 1908. 

OFFICE OF FARM MANAGEMENT. 

Yearbook Article on Diversified Farming in the Cotton Belt. 1905. 

Farmers' Bulletin No. — : 

299. Diversified Farming under the Plantation System, 1907. 

310, A Successful Alabama Diversification Farm," 1907, 

519, An Example of Intensive Farming in the Cotton Belt. 1912. 

RESULTS. 

The foll()^v-ing is a resume of the principal resuHs obtained from the 
work : 

(1) The confidence of the farmers in their ability to grow cotton 
profitably in spite of the boll weevil has been almost entirely restored. 

(2) Adoption of diversification of crops and improved farm 
methods, and in consequence a great increase in the production cf 
corn, alfalfa, clovers, and grasses, and number of live stock raised, 
and largely increased crops. 



8 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 

(3) Boys' corn clubs and girls' canning clubs were organized and 
are now most important factors in promoting better methods of 
farming, diversificaUon of crops, and producti(m of better home 
su]>plies. 

(4) There are now cooperating with tlie (h'partment in carrying on 
the work 102,708 demonstrators, 91,096 members of the boys' corn 
clubs, and 38,000 members of the girls' canning clubs; besides, agri- 
cultural colleges and educational institutions, cities, counties, boards 
of trade, agricultural associations, and j^rivate citizens cooperate. 

(5) Demonstration work, wliicli is believed to })e the best plan ever 
devised for instruction of farmers and their families and for general 
])roniotion of better rural conditions, has become a great force in 
rural echication. 

(6) Early-maturing varieties, wliich produce large yields, large 
bolls, and good length of staple, etc., were originated through the 
brc^etling and selection experiments, and these have now almost 
entirely su})erseded inferior types formerly grown in boll-weevil 
infested territory. 

(7) Four new types of cotton from Mexico and Guatemala having 
weevil-resistant characters have been acclimated in the United States 
and are being improved by careful breeding and selection. One of 
these varieties, the Durango from Mexico, is coming to be recognized 
as the best early-maturing variety of long sta])le Upland cotton. 

(8) Development of improved cultural methods of securing pro- 
tection against the weevil, which makes it ])ossible to grow cotton in 
(hyer parts of the Southwest and shorten the crop season. 

(9) Discovery of the fact that the cotton plant has two distinct 
kinds of branches, so that it is possible to control the habits of 
growth and secure increased earliness and larger yields by suppressing 
the vegetative branches. 

(10) Control of the root-rot disease through deep fall j)lowing, 
thorough aeration, and rotation of crops. 

(11) Development of two strains of wnlt-resistant Upland cotton 
and their wide adoption in weevil-infested districts. 

(12) Demonstration of the fact that profitable crops of cotton can 
l)e grown with very low rainfall and under average ctmditions, and 
with good drainage methods excellent crops can be pnxhicetl in the 
.section about San Antonio, Tex. 

Money expended by the Bureau of Plant Industry in investigations of the cotton boll 

ireevil. 





Fiscal year. 


.V mount. 




Fiscal year. 


.V mount. 


1934 

1905 

190fi 




i $27,310.04 

; 102.078.26 

95,S2;j.81 
105, 04S. 82 


1909-10 

1910 

1910-11 




$49,878.82 

173,077.72 

9,094.04 


19)7 


1911 


242,223.40 


lJ)7-8... 




39.999 03 


1912 


349, 648. 48 


190S 




112,2(10.10 


1913 


353,536.23 


190S-9 




1 9,970.31 


Total 




igig 




1 94,292.33 


1,7»S5,399.99 







BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLEBA PLAGUES. 9 

A Report of the Work of the Bureau of Entomology on the 
Mexican Cotton Boll Weevil, in Pursuance of House Reso- 
lution No. 254. 

METHODS USED. 

The Bureau of Entomology has investigated the habits of the Mex- 
ican cotton boll weevil to determine the manner in which the losses 
it causes may be reduced. These investigations have included every 
phxse of the life history and habits of the insect, its control by 
parasites and insect enemies, and also the effects of climate and 
farm practices upon the abundance and injury of the species. The 
effects of climate are various. They cause the weevil problem to 
take on local phases. Thus there are actually a number of weevil 
problems instead of one. The different problems have been studied 
as the insect invaded new regions. 

^Yorl• prior to 1900. — -The Bureau of Entomology began to study 
the ravages of the boll weevil and its habits and control in 1894. 
There was no special appropriation for the purpose, but the bureau 
set aside a portion of the regular appropriation and obtained the 
services of Mr. C. H. T. Townsend, then of the New Mexican Agri- 
cultural Experiment Station, for an investigation extending over two 
months. In March, 1895, Mr. Townsend recommended the isolation 
of the cotton region of the United States from that in Mexico by a 
strip of territory along the Rio Grande River, in which no cotton 
should be produced. If this recommendation, which was urged upon 
the Texas Legislature by the then Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, 
had been carried out, the boll weevil would probably never have 
spread throughout the country. At this time the bureau made the 
first proposal of a quarantine against the Mexican seed. The prin- 
ciples involved in this latter recommendation were adopted after a 
number of years by most of the Southern States. 

In 1895, still in the absence of special provision by Congress, the 
bureau sent entomologists to Texas to study the weevil, and especially 
to determine the extent to which it had spread. On account of other 
i:>ressing work the attention given the weevil was very limited. Dur- 
ing this early period of the weevil's attack the chief of tlie bureau. 
Dr. L. O. Howard, made frequent visits to the infested regions. In 
1S96 Dr. Howard recommended the appointment of county commis- 
sioners with power to enforce remedial work. 

The Bureau of Entomology continued its investigations of the 
spread of the weevil during the fall of 1898. At this time the Legis- 
lature of the State of Texas made ])ro vision for the appoi.itment of 
a State entomologist and provided a limited appropriation for an 
investigation of means of combating the boll weevil. In view of this 
fact the Bureau of Entomologv discontinued temporarily the work 
that had been carried on through agents kept in the field almost con- 
stantly for four years, and all correspondence was referred to the 
State entomologist of Texas. laifortunatel} , however, the insect 
continued to spread, and it soon became apparent that other States 
were threatened. This caused the work to be taken up anew by the 
Bureau of Entomology in 1901, in accordance with an appropriation 
for an investigation independent of that which was being carried on 
by the State of Texas and with special reference to possible means of 
preventing the insect from spreading into adjoimng States. Th(! 
amount provided was $10,000. 



10 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 

KstablisJiment of a laboratory at Victoria, Tex. — In accordance with 
the provision mentioned an entomologist was sent to Texas in ^farcii, 
1901, and carried on investigations of the weevil upon eight large 
plantations in regions infested by the weevil. As a result of the first 
year's work Congress made a larger appropriation and provided for 
the establishment of a laboratory at Victoria, Tex. From 1902 until 
the end of 1904 the investigations of the boll weevil were conducted 
from the laboratory at Victoria, Tex. The force of investigators was 
increased to about -0 m(>n in 1904. Duiing this period an ex- 
haustive investigation of th(^ life history and the habits of the boll 
weevil was begun. This resulted m iho perf(M'tion of the so-called 
cultural system of control. In 1902 arrangements were made with 
two large planters in typical situations for the testing of the principal 
features of the cultural system upon a large scale. The result of this 
year's work led to the establishment of seven experimental farms, 
aggregating 558 acres. These farms were established in several dis- 
tinct cotton districts in Texas. They were primarily experimental in 
their nature, but servcul as demonstrations of successful methods of 
combating the weevil. In 1904 a still larger numl:>er of experimental 
farms were conducted. 

During the fall of tliis year the Secretary of Agriculture, with sev- 
eral advisers, visited Texas to determine what could best be dojie by 
the department to meet more efficiently the crisis caused by the weevil. 
It was decided to enlarge greatly the demons trational work which had 
been coiiducted successfully by the Bureau of Entomology and to add 
assistance lo the planters by instructions in better methods of crop- 
ping. This was the beginning of the large scale work of the depart- 
ment . 

During 1904 the Bureau of Entomology arranged a system of coop- 
eralion wilh the Crop Pest Commission of Louisiana, which was under 
the direction of Prof. H. A. Morgan. This cooperative work con- 
sisted, principally, of a detailed study of the methods of dispersion of 
the boll weevil and of all possible means of artificial distribution. As 
a result of the study of the movement of the weevil, in the fall of 1904 
a system of very complete quai-antine measures was developed and put 
into efl"(H't by the adoption of the bureau's recommendations by the 
various States. 

Remonnl of lahorafory to Dallas. — Owing to the extensive spread of 
the boll weevil in 1904, it was deemed advisable to remove the labora- 
tory to Dallas, Tex. This was done in the spring of 1905. The woik 
on the boll weevil was directed from this laboratoiy from that time 
until April, 191;^. The principal projects in 1905 were as follows: A 
study of the number of generations at Dallas, Tex.; a study of the 
weevil's ability to locate a food supply in the spring; test of the pos- 
sibility of the weevil to feed upon other food jUants; demonstration 
of tem])erature in(lu(Mices by using incubator and ice box; observa- 
tions upon the Umits of emergence peiiods from hibernation; studies 
of the spiing flight of weevils; progress of infestation; studies of fall 
dispersion; (»fFects of the severe wioter of 1904-5 upon the hibernation 
of weevils; studies in the possible adaptation of the weevil to new 
conditions; deteiniination of {\\c temi)eraturc fatal to weevil life in 
vaiious stages; investigations of parasites oi othei' weevils with a. view 
of employing thorn against the boll wee^nl; studies of the plant pro- 
liferation against the l)oll weevil: eoJliH-ting of bird stomachs in cotton 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLEEA PLAGUES. 11 

fields to ascertain what species of birds were feeding iipoii the weevil; 
tests of Reinlein's trap-row system; tests of check-row ciiUivalion; 
determination of effect of plowing under infested squares; determi- 
nation of proper spacing of plants for north Texas; tests of insecti- 
cides; studies of the proper methods of the fall treatment of the cot- 
ton plants; investigations of improvements in machinery for field and 
general use; photographic record of all experiments. 

The same projects outlined in 1905 were conducted in 1906. 

In 1907 the following projects were conducted: A thorough study 
of the hibernation of the boll weevil at Dallas, Calvert, and Vic- 
toria, Tex.; studies of the flight of the boll weevil; life history studies 
of the boll weevil in the Red River bottoms of Louisiana; studies 
of the dispersion of the weevil; an mvestigation of the adaptive 
capacities of the weevil to various climatic conditions and food sup- 
ply; insecticide mvestigations; studies of parasites and ants in their 
relation to the boll weevil; a study of cultural practices in relation 
to the control of the weevil, including preparation of the soil, fertiliza- 
tion, planting of the seed, topping or spacing of plants, cultivation 
of the crop, destruction of the plants in the fall; check-rovf cultivation ; 
topping of plants; investigation of the deterioration of land and seed 
values where cotton is allowed to remain unpicked long after matu- 
rity; the study of macliuiery for the control of the boll weevil; a 
statistical study of boll-weevil damage; a determination of the most 
advisable methods of avoiding or preventing serious weevil injury 
by arrangement of cotton plantings with special reference to hiber- 
nation shelter on account of previously infested area, etc., and by 
alternation or rotation of crops. 

A thorough investigation was made of the biological relationships 
between the boll weevil and the cotton plant, including a study of 
the weevil-favoring and weevil-resisting qualities in cotton, the effi- 
ciency of weevil-resisting adaptations, and the ability of the weevil 
to circumvent them; comparison of plant types and fruit types, 
including bud, bolls and seed, lint length and pilosity, thickness of 
carpels, toughness of carpel linings, size and appression of bracts, 
thickness of floral envelopes, proliferation, density and persistency 
of foliage, retention or shedding of infested fruit, determinate char- 
acter of growth, etc. 

The work also included a study of the control of various insects, 
the work of which complicates the boll-weevil problem; a study of 
the factors causing local variation in weevil abundance and injur}'; 
an investigation of the possibility of utilizing cotton stalks for the 
manufacture of paper, alcohol, etc. ; preparation of rules and regula- 
tions to be presented to State legislatures with the aim of preventing 
artificial dissemination of the weevil and minimizing damage neces- 
sarily suffered with an infested area. 

In 1908 the work was particularly marked by the establishment of 
a laboratory at Tallulah, La. This was made necessary by the fact 
that conditions in the Delta are peculiar and the weevil injury heavier 
than elsewhere. During this year the following were the princijial 
projects under way: Farm experiments at various points, mcluding 
investigations of the proportion of land, fertilization, varieties, time 
and method of planting, and final treatment; the perfection of a 
chain-drag cultivator, planned to draw the infested squares to the 
middle of the rows; a complete study of the best methods of fall 



12 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 

destruction of plants; check-row experiments at Dallas, Tex.; studies 
of many forms of machinery ])lnnnod to assist in the flight ao^ainst the 
wocvil; com])arisons of early and late ])lantin^ in new n^ijions, espe- 
cially at Alexandria, La.; experiments with poisons and j^roprietary 
insecticides; a very thorough investigation of the effects of climate 
upon the weevil; an attempt to utilize the knowledge gained con- 
cerning the natural enemies of the weevil by distribution of parasites; 
a contuniation of the hibernation studies; examinations of the condi- 
tion of infestation at two periods during the season in order to obtain 
an estimate of the ])ossible amount of damage and the direction of 
dispersion (a great deal of good has been obtained from this type of 
investigation): a study of the influence of the weevils u])on general 
economic conditions. 

During the fiscal year 1910 most of the investigations already out- 
lined were conducted. A great deal of stress was placed upon the 
work in Louisiana which was conducted at Tallulah and Mansura. 
Farm experiments were conducted at Mexia, Dallas, Wolfe City, and 
Refugio, Tex.; Ardmore, Okla.; Shreveport, Tallulah, Bayou Pierre, 
Alexandria, Mansura, and Ballina. La. 

In the fiscal years 1911 and 1912 the greatest part of the boll- 
weevil work was conducted at Tallulah, T^a., where more thorough 
studies were made in the life histor}^ of the boll weevil for comparison 
with similar stutlies made in former years at Victoria and Dallas. 
A very complete series of experiments in the use of arsenate of lead 
against the boll weevil were conducted. Experiments were con- 
ducted to ascertain a better method of fall treatment than that of 
burning stalks. Very extensive experiments were conducted to 
ascertain the economic value of square ])icking and we?vil picking 

In the spring of 1913 the headquarters of the boll weevil investi- 
gations were moved to Washington, D. C. Two agents were sta- 
tioned at Victoria, Tex., for studies of the life history of the boll 
weevil to ascertain the changes in habits that have developed since 
the early investigations. The work in the delta regions of Louisiana 
was continued by a considerable force of agents with ex])erimental 
farms in many sections of the ^Mississippi and Louisiana delta. The 
experimental work covered the use of poisons, control during hiber- 
nation, ])ickhig of weevils, and infested squares. 

The announcement during the year of the iinduig of the boll 
weevil upon a wild plant growing in Arizona led to the stationing of 
an agent in the cotton sections of Arizona and lower California. 
The work of this agent was, unfortunately, interrupted by his serious 
ilhiess and death. In the fall of 1913 an investigation made was of 
the habits of the weevil upon this native food plant in Arizona. 
This investigation was of considerable importance, as it indir'ated 
the ])Ossibility of an even greater adaptation on the part of the weevil 
than had ever been expected. 

Tei^ting of mHliods of control in ilw Held. — In the various experi- 
ments which have been outlined above for the testing of control 
measures, the bureau has usually selected farms in various localities 
and made an agreement with the owner that the bureau should have 
coin])lete direction of the methods to be used in the cultivation of the 
cro]) (luring the s(>as()n of investigation. Farm ex])eriments in this 
manner were arranged in advance at practically every typical locality 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 13 

in the infestotl sections. Tiie experiments were watctied carefully 
by bureau agents from the beginning of the season until the picking 
of cotton. In most cases picking was personally supervised by 
agents of the bureau in order to obtain absolutely correct weights 
and correct statements of the cost of production. In experiments 
with insecticides, such as Paris green, arsenate of lead, and arsenate 
of iron, the bureau agents personally superintended the application 
of the poison, making a complete record of the cost of poison and 
labor, surveying the area treated, and finally superintending the 
picking of the crop. In this manner it was possible for the bureau 
to obtain the absolute cost of all processes in the treatment of the 
weevil, and to ascertain what processes could be carried on at a profit. 
The bureau has never recommended as a means of control of the weevil 
any process which would not give a net increase in yield after all 
costs had been deducted. All experiments have been thoroughly 
checked by other field of practically equal size and conditions. 

The larger economic problems. — Each year the bureau has followed 
very closely a study of the boll weevil throughout the season, issuing 
statements and maps to all parties concerned. By this means the 
bureau has been able to warn sections in advance of the progress of the 
weevil as to the probable time at which they would be infested, and 
the probable damage during the succeeding sepson. For a number 
of years the bureau was able to make a thorough study of the status 
of the weevil in July and August, and to report to all State ento- 
mologists and the Secretary of Agriculture f s to the exact condition 
of the weevil at each of these seasons. The maps which accom- 
panied these status reports generally were of such a nature that they 
indicated the probable directions of flight, and also gave a fair brsis 
of estimate as to the amount of damage to be expected from the 
weevil. The status examinations were discontinued in 1912 owdng 
to a lack of sufficient funds. The work upon the dispersion of the 
weevil and the status examinations have been of considerable value 
in assisting the various States in uninfested regions to frame quaran- 
tine measures which would be of value in preventing the artificial 
spread of the weevil. A very thorough cooperation has been ob- 
served with all of the State entomologists in the cotton belt. Meet- 
ings have been held • t various times to consider the best means of 
preventing the spread of the boll weevil by artificial means, and at 
these meetings the bureau and the State entomologists have always 
consulted the neec's of the various inc'ustries concerned. 

A great deal of statistical work has been done to ascertain the 
amount of damage done to the cotton crop by the boll weevil. The 
most thorough investigation of the damage done by the weevil was 
made during the summer of 1913, In these studies it was found that 
the loss in yield per acre during the years of infestation by the weevil 
as compared with years in which the weevil had not been present, 
amounted to a total of over $800,000,000. Since the boll weevil is the 
only pest of any importance which has damaged the cotton during 
the years of its infestation, and which was not present in the earlier 
years, it is considered that any decrease in average yield for a period 
of years can be attributed directly to the boll weevil. The statistics 
show an actual loss in the production per acre of the land which is in 
cotton. 



14 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLEBA PLAGUES. 

RESULTS. 

Fonnulatlon of cultural method of control. — As lias already been 
stated, a system of cultural control was developed from studies of the 
life history and habits of the weevil. Every phase in the so-called 
cultural system of control is based upon some particular phase of the 
life history of tlie insect. Each recommendation in the system has 
been made after a thorough testing on jnany farms and in many 
places. It has been the policy of the Bureau of Entomology never 
to recommend any particular method of control until it has been 
tested for at least three yeai's, it being considered that a method tested 
through three years, if proving successful, can safely be recommended 
in following years. 

Biielly, the system consists of a preparation of the fields during 
the winter by plowing, and the destruction of weeds and undergrowth; 
the planting of an early crop with an carl}^ maturing variety; the 
thorough and intensive cultivation of this cro]) throughout the sea- 
son; the hand-picking of weevils and infested squares when the 
infestation is great; the early picking of the matured crop; the 
destruction of the plants to prevent breeding in the field and winter; 
rotation of crops. 

In addition to the methods of cultural control mentioned, two 
others of considerable value should be mentioned. There are circum- 
stances under which poisoning with arsenate of lead can be done 
successfully. The prevention of the movement of the boll weevil 
by means of quarantine is also one of the principal methods of repres- 
sion. 

The basis for the first step in control, namely, winter preparation 
of the fields, is the fact that many weevils are known to hibernate 
in old cotton bolls, behind the shucks of corn, under clods, in piles 
of manure, or grass or weeds, under bark and stone. The clean 
cultivation of the field and its preparation for the spring is instru- 
mental in destroying many stages of the weevil. Many farms have 
been observed during the years of investigation where this method 
has been carried out and other farms where it has not. Even the 
casual observer would be able to recognize the difference in the 
infestation of the fields, this always being in favor of the farmer 
who keeps his land clean over winter. 

The next step in the cultural system is known as early planting. 
There has been much discussion of this phase of the boU weevil con- 
trol system, and many opponents of the bureau's method have 
appeared from time to time. By early planting the bureau means 
the planting at a reasonable time to prevent the average killing 
frost from doing damage to the crop, and yet early enough to secure 
the earhest possible crop. The farmers in each section are recom- 
mended to stud}^ the average date of killing frost in their section, 
and to plant their crop at such a time as to reasonably avoid damage. 
The bureau includes in this portion of the system a selection of vari- 
eties which mature early, which have little foliage, which are de- 
terminate in gi'owth and yet prolific in production. Early planting 
also means the use of fertilizers to hasten the crop. 

Owing to the many objections raised to the early planting system, 
experiments have been conducted at a number of places to prove 
definitely whether cotton should be planted early or late. These 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 15 

experiments were conducted at points in Texas and in southern 
Louisiana, principally Alexandria and Bunkie. Observations were 
also made on many farms where a comparison could be obtained 
between the early crops and late crops. There are several reasons 
why it is necessary to plant moderately early. In the first place, 
early planting enables the cotton to make a considerable growth 
before a majority of the weevils have emerged from hibernation. 
In the second place, the early crops of cotton mature before the 
usual fall dispersion of the weevil. Late crops, on the other hand, 
are not up until practically all of the hibernating weevils are present 
in the fields. These crops are then hampered by an excess of insect 
attack from the very beginning of their squaring period. When the 
usual fall dispersion commences, with its flights of multitudes of 
weevils, the late crops are still in a tender condition and soon are 
devastated by the swarming weevils. 

The bureau has found that each typical section infested by tlie 
weevil requires a different variety of cotton for successful produc- 
tion in the presence of the weevil. The following varieties have given 
the greatest success in various localities: Cleveland Big Boll, Cook's 
Improved, Improved Triumph, Mebane Triumph, King's Improved, 
Rowden, Rublee, Foster, and Blanchard. Several other varieties 
have given indications of success in certain locaUties, but the tests 
of these have not been carried out very extensively. 

The next phase in the system is known as thorough cultivation. 
One of the most important pliases of thorough cultivation in many 
sections is known as check-row planting. In some sections this 
portion of the syatem involves general drainage, such as the use of 
tiles, or, on the other hand, the use of irrigation water to assist in the 
cultivation. Tlie crop should be worked thoroughly, and where 
possible tiie ground should be kept in a pulverized condition. The 
method of cultivation varies greatly with different sections. The 
distance between the rows and the distance between the plants are 
also matters which liave to be worked out in each particular section. 
These are points, however, which have been found to be of consider- 
able importance in the boll-weevil problem. It has been found in the 
investigations of the bureau that the average farmer lays by his crop 
too early in the fall. With the boll weevil present the crop should 
not be laid by until the cotton is ready to be picked. This thorough 
cultivation is of great assistance in destroying the weevils in infested 
forms upon the ground. 

In order to bring about a more perfect system of cultivation in the 
dryer sections the bureau perfected a machine known as "chain drag." 
This consisted principally of two sets of chains to be dragged through 
the field in such a manner as to cause the infested material on the 
ground to be drawn to the middle of the rows. It has been found 
that the control by the sun is much greater in the middle of the rows 
than under the plants. Although the bureau perfected this machine 
and succeeded in having one of the manufacturing companies place 
it upon tlie market, it is quite unnecessary for the average farmer to 
purchase a s})ecial nnichine of this type. If the farmer understands 
the ])rinciple of the chain-drag cultivation and possesses an ordinary 
disk cultivator or harrow, he can remove the disks or harrow teeth 
and place the chains upon this framework. 



16 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 

Many ichts \in\v l)ocn conductetJ to demon^trato tlio various 
details oi' tlie thoroii<,'h cultiv.iuon part of tlio system. In onicr to 
prove tliat the cultivation oi" the crop is sto})])e(l too soon by the aver- 
f\<ic planter, experiments have be(>n conclueted from time to time 
usini!; ct^rtnin fields for a thorough cultivation to the end of the season, 
and checking tliese by fields in which the usual method was practiced. 
The results liave always been in favor of the more thorough culti- 
vation. 

The final phase in tlie cultural system is the fall treatment. The 
basis for the entire recommendation for fall treatment lies in the fact 
that the earlier tlie weevils are deprived of food in the field the fewer 
are able to pass through the winter. For a number of years the 
bureau has recommended very ftrongly the early picking of the crop 
and the destruction of the plants by burning. There is naturally 
some oppo; ition to this recommendation on account of the loj^^s of 
fertilizing (dements. One of the principal lines of future work that 
should be undertaken is the perfection of some means of control 
which would remove the objection mentioned. 

Many observations have been made upon the value of rotation of 
crops. It has been found that where farmers use proper methods of 
rotation the infestation by the boll weevil is considerably reduced, 
even in heavily infested sections. 

Square picking and weevil picking can not be considered as a part 
of the cultural sj^stem of control, but these measures are found to be 
of importance in heavily infested sections. Within the last three 
years conditions have arisen in the delta regions of Mississippi and 
Louisiana where the infestation was so great and the labor so cheap 
that this has become a very practical means of controlling the weevil. 
The tests carried out by the bureau have been exceedingly thorough. 
They took placa on many plantations in Louisiana. An accurate 
account has been made of the actual cost of picking the squares, and 
this cost has been deducted from the yield in order to obtain the net 
results. The square-picking tests in Louisiana have showai an aver- 
age profit of over S3 per acre when compared with the check plots 
under observation at the same time. 

In the early years of the boll-weevil investigation much stress was 

E laced upon the use of Paris green and London purple against the 
oil weevil. It was later found that the high expense of these poisons 
and their great toxicity to the cotton plant rendered their use inad- 
visable. More recently the entomologist of Louisiana found that he 
obtained a measure of success by using powdered arsenate of lead 
applied by a dust gun. The results, as published by the Louisiana 
State entomologist, were so striking that the Bureau of Entomology 
employed the agent who had conducted the Louisiana experiments 
and had him follow^ up these experiments by even a larger series for 
the next four years. Lurhig these six years of experimentation w^ith 
dry poisons applied by dust guns, the bureau and the State of Louisi- 
ana nave succeeded in obtaming an average net profit of over S3 per 
acre. The limitations of the use of the poison have been worked out, 
and it is now possible to recommend advisedly the use of powdered 
arsenate of lead in the spring, when the weevils are verj' numerous. 
The number of applications should not exceed four and the time 
intervals should not exceed seven days. The poison should be 



BOLL WEEVIL AISTD HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 17 

applied by a powerful dust gun. The bureau has also found that 
similar success can be obtained with the use of powdered arsenate of 
iron, which is even cheaper than the arsenate of lead. 

The studies of the dispersion of the boll weevil and the advice based 
thereon have been largely instrumental in preventing any artificial 
spread of the weevil, with the exception of a very" few cases. The 
result is that the spread of the weevil has been very regular on all 
sides of the line and that there have been no important sporadic out- 
breaks in new sections. 

Demonstration of futility of i)roiyosed remedies. — A large part of the 
work of the bureau has been the investigation of proposed remedies. 
The majority of remedies suggested by various people have been 
quite futile. The bureau has been able, through this portion of its 
work, to save the public large sums of money. 

Probably more serious mjury to planters has been brought about 
by the advocates of late plantmg than any other method ever pro- 
posed agamst the weevil. Whole plantings have been absolutely 
destroyed by the weevil where the farmers have followed the advice 
of late-planting advocates. This is especially true in Louisiana in 
the vicinity of Alexandria. Advocates of the use of Paris green in 
a powdered form secured large sums of money from the planters in 
Louisiana for several years. Early in the investigations the use of 
trap lanterns was recommended, and large sums of money were 
paid by planters for patented lanterns. 

Among the other miscellaneous remedies which have been sug- 
gested are the use of mineral pamt as a specific against the weevil; 
of cotton-seed meal to attract the weevils; of pastes and various 
formulas to be used in the fields to trap the weevils; of soaking the 
seed in sulphur in order to force the sulphur into the system of the 
plants to make them immune to attack; the planting of tobacco 
plants, castor bean plants, and pepper plants in order to repeel the 
weevils; or the use of X-ray machines to sterilize the weevils, and of 
electrocuting the weevils by passing heavy currents of electricity 
through the fields. 

Publications. — The prmcipal manner in which the bureau has been 
able to reach the public has been through its publications. Three 
large and comprehensive bulletins upon the entire subject of the 
boll weevil's life history and control have been published. These 
are laiown as Bulletins Nos. 45 and 57 of the Bureau of Entomology 
and Senate Document No. 305, Sixty-second Congress, second 
session. Farmers' bulletins and circulars have been issued almost 
every year, covermg some particular phase of weevil control. The 
most important of these is Farmers' Bulletin No. 512. In this 
publication the system of cultural control is given a very thorough 
treatment. Bulletms upon several special phases of the problem 
have been issued from time to time. The principal bulletms dealing 
with the natural control of the weevQ are Bulletins Nos. 73, 74, 
and 100 of the Bureau of Entomology. Bulletin No. 77 of the bureau 
is a very thorough treatise upon the hibernation of the weevil. It 
has been the custom of the bureau to publish each year a short 
circular, accompanied by a map, giving the distribution of the weevil 
up to the end of the growing season. The last circular of this class 
is No. 167. 

H. Doc. 463, 63-2 2 



18 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 



In addition to these published bulletins, it has been the practice 
of the bureau for several years to mail mimeographed monthly- 
statements of the condition of the pest to State and Federal officials. 

Money expended by Bureau of Entomology in investigation of cotton boll weevil. 



Fiscal year. 


Amount. 


Fisoal year. 


Amount. 


1903 •. 


$8,000.00 
11,734.49 
63, 213. 97 
59,043.49 
64. 682. 78 
38, 243. 00 
21,220.69 


1910 


$26, 745. 14 


1904 


1911. 


27 470 97 


1905 


1912 


22, 6:59. 35 


1906 


1913 


25, 557. 93 


1907 


'lV)(;il 




1908 


368,551.81 


1909 











Of this amount approximately 20 per cent was expended in purely 
routine operations, such as determining the extent of the spread 
from year to year and in the testing of proposed remedies. 

The total amount cxjiended from 1903 to 1913 is less than 2 per 
cent of the loss caused by the boll weevil in any one of the jeRrs 
mentioned . 

Report of the Work on Hog Cholera by the United States 
Department of Agriculture from 1S78 to 1913. 

The investigations of hog cholera by the Department of Agricul- 
ture extend over a period of 35 years, beginning in 1878 For con- 
venience of consideration these investigations may be divided into 
three periods, as follows: 

First period {1878-1885). — FimdanKMitwl studies concerning nature 
and cause of swine diseases. 

Second period (1886-1903). — Immunity studies in the laboratory 
and field. 

Third period (1904-1913). — Renewed investigations concerning 
the cause of hog cholera, culminating in the discovery of a successful 
serum treatment. 

The work during the first two periods, while indispensable in 
determining the distribution and general characteristics of important 
swine diseases, has now beconu^ largely obsolete^ in view of the dis- 
coveries made during the last 10 years; therefore only the general 
nature (^f that woi-k together with a statement of tlie results secured 
will be considered, while a more detailed i-e]>ort of tlie work of recent 
years is submitted. 

FIRST period (1878-1885). 

Prior to the year 1878, the department had no funds available for 
the study of contagious diseases of animals. On Juii(> 20, 1878, how- 
ever, the sum of SI 0,000 was appropriated for ''investigating diseases 
of swine, and infectious and contagious diseases to which all other 
classes of domestic animals are subject." With the funds thus appro- 
priated the Commissioner of Agriculture employ(>d a number of sci- 
entists to investigate and classify the diseases of swine, the appropria- 
tion being renewed from year to year, although a considerable pro- 
portion of the available funds was used in the study of other animal 
diseases. 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 19 

With regard to the work done and the resahs secured during the 
period from 1878 to 1885, it will suffice to say that laboratories were 
established in the department, the Bureau of Animal Industry was 
organized, and a comprehensive study of swdne diseases was carried 
out. This early work consisted for the most part in studies of the 
distribution, classification, and mode of transmission of swine dis- 
eases, supplemented by laboratory investigations, which were in- 
tended to discover the cause or causes of those diseases. These 
investigations established the fact that one or more plagues of s\\ine 
existed in practically all sections of the country. They showed fur- 
ther that those plagues were contagious, and led to the suggestion of 
quarantine and disinfection for preventing their spread. Coincident- 
ally WTith the field observations rapid "progress was made in the 
laboratory investigations and in the year 1885 announcement was 
made by the department that one of the great causes of losses among 
swme was a contagious disease designated ''hog cholera," caused by 
a motile bacterium, wliich was named the "hog cholera bacillus." 
These fundamental researches received general confirmation from 
other institutions. 

The first period of the department's researches culminated, there- 
fore, in the establishment of the fact that at least a great proportion 
of the losses of swine was due to hog cholera and in the reported dis- 
covery of the micro-organism which caused that disease. 

SECOND PERIOD (1886-1903). 

Immediately following the discovery of the supposed cause of hog 
cholera the Bureau of Animal Industry began a long series of inves- 
tigations which had for their object the development of a method of 
treatment or vaccination that would cure or prevent hog cholera. 
These investigations were all based upon the behef that the hog 
cholera bacillus was the cause of hog cholera, therefore that micro- 
organism was used for the production of vaccines and serums. 

None of these experiments met with success, although at times the 
results in the laboratory were such as to encourage the behef that 
the problem had been solved. This was particularly true of a series 
of experiments in wliich large animals such as horses, cattle, and 
donkeys were inoculated with the hog cholera bacillus and its prod- 
ucts. The object of these experiments was to cause the development 
of an antitoxin in the blood of the horses, cattle, or donkeys so that 
their blood serum might be used to cure or prevent hog cholera. 

The serum thus produced was considered to be of such promise 
that in the year 1897 a series of field experiments was begun and 
carried out on a fairly large scale during the years 1898, 1899, 1900, 
and 190] . Though apparently yielding a certain measure of success, 
this serum was fhially proved to be unsatisfactory for practical use. 

The uniform fadure to produce an effective vaccme or serum when 
taken in consideration with the fact that the natural disease, hog 
cholera, is always followed by complete immunity in recovered hogs 
led to the suspicion that possibly after all the true "cause of hog cholera 
was not understood. 

This suggested possibility that the hog-cholera liacillus was not the 
only factor involved in the disease gave rise to a series of experiments 
which resuUed, in the year 1903, in the discoverv that there existed 



20 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 

in the Slate of Iowa a fatal disease of hogs, indistinguishable in its 
characterislics from hog cliolera, which was not caused by the hog- 
cholera bacillus but b}' an invisible niicroorganisni which existed in 
the blood and other ])ody fluids of sick hogs. This invisible micro- 
organism is eitlier so minute or else of such structure that it can not 
be discerned by the highest ])owers of the microscope, nor is it re- 
strained by porcelain or earthen filters, which effectually prevent the 
passage of all visible bacteria. 

THIRD PERIOD (1904-1913). 

The discovery that there existed in the State of Iowa a fatal disease 
among hogs caused by an in\'isible microorganism and not by the 
so-called hog-cliolera bacillus naturally suggested the idea that this 
invisible microorganism was concerned in all outbreaks of hog cholera 
and that the lack of success of earlier attempts to produce an effective 
vaccine or serum was due to a failure to recognize the presence of the 
invisible microorganism as a factor in the causation of the disease. 
Practically the entke year 1904 was therefore devoted to experiments 
which hacl for their object the determination of (1) the true cause of 
hog cholera; (2) the relationship of the hog-cholera bacillus to hog 
cholera; (3) the extent of the distribution of the disease found in Iowa 
and caused by the invisi})le virus. These experiments were exhaus- 
tive and led to conclusions of far-reaching importance. 

It appears sufFicient for the purposes of this report to I'ecord here 
merely the results of these investigations, the details of the experi- 
mental work being given in Bureau of Animal Industry Bulletin No. 
72, which is attached hereto and marked ''Exhibit A." ^ 

The results of the investigations of 1904 ma}' be summarized as 
follows : 

1. Hog cholera is caused by an invisible microorganism which 
exists m the blood and other body fluids of sick hogs. 

2. The so-called "hog-cholera bacillus" is not the cause of hog 
cholera and at the most is merely an accessory factor m the disease. 

3. Hogs that recover from hog cholera are thereafter immune. 
Hogs that recover from artificial infection with the mvisible vu'us 
are rendered immune agamst the natural disease, whereas infection 
with the hog-cholera bacillus does not confer immunit}" against hog 
cholera. 

The miportance of these investigations can not be overestunated, 
for they at once indicated the cause of the earlier failures to produce 
effective vaccines and serums, and pointed the way for new experi- 
ments looking toward the development of reliable methods of pre- 
vention and control. The conclusions reached as a result of these 
experiments have been enth-ely confirmed by investigators m Ger- 
many, France, England, Austria-Hungary, and other countries 
where hog cholera exists. 

In the year 1905 experiments which had for then object the 
development of a protective serum against hog cholera were begun. 
Even before this time suggestions had been made looking to the 
utilization of hogs themselves as a source of a protective serum, and 
efforts had been made to prepare a vaccine by using diseased blood 
which had been subjected to heat and to the action of various chemi- 

1 Not furnished. 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 21 

cals for the purpose of attenuation. Toward the close of the year 
1905 it was demonstrated conclusively that hogs ct^n be protected 
from hog cholera by the following method: 

A hog which is immune against hog cholera, either naturally or as 
a result of an attack of the disease, is injected with large amounts of 
blood taken f-rom a pig sick of hog cholera. This injection when 
properly perfumed does no material harm to the immune. Within a 
week or 10 days blood is drawn from the immune hog, and this 
blood, after defibrination, is used to protect susceptible pigs. Only 
a few tests were possible in the year 1905, but the results of the 
experiments were so favorable that they were continued and ex- 
tended into 1906. With the satisfactory progress of this method of 
protecting hogs from hog cholera, it appeared desirable to insure 
that the people of the country should have secured to them the free 
use of the method developed in the department's laboratories. 
Therefore an application for patent was made and granted by the 
United States Patent Office giving to the Government, or any of its 
officers or employees in the prosecution of work for the Government, 
or to any person in the United States, the right to use this method 
without the payment of any royalty thereon. The experiments 
carried out in the years 1905 and 1906 are all recorded in detail in 
Bulletin No. 102 of the Bureau of Animal Industry, a copy of which 
is attached to this report and marked, ''Exhibit B." ^ 

The facts brought out by these experiments are, briefly, as follows: 

1. When hogs immune against hog cholera are injected with suit- 
able amounts of blood taken from hogs sick of hog cholera, the blood 
serum of the immune acquires the power to protect nonimmune hogs 
against an other-wise fatal exposure to the disease. This process of 
producing serum is known as "hyperimmunization." 

2. The serum from hyperimmunized hogs may be used to protect 
susceptible 'hogs in one of two ways: (a) The serum alone is injected. 
This confers an immunity lasting from three weeks to two months. 
(b) The serum is injected simultaneously with a minute amount of 
blood taken from a hog sick of hog cholera. This is known as the 
"simultaneous method," and it produces an immunity which lasts 
for many months, if not for life. 

3. The serum is essentially a preventive. It does not cure hogs 
already visi})ly sick, but it may be used successfully as a cure if 
administered in the very early stages of the disease. 

Up to the year 1907 the work with this new serum was conducted 
entirely on hogs kept in experimental pens on promises controlled 
by the de])artment. The results of the tests were so uniformly fav- 
oral)le that arrangements were made to test the effect of the serum 
when used under lield conditions. Iherefore a considerable quantity 
of serum was prepared and applied to approximately 2,000 hogs on 
47 different farms in central Iowa. Ihe method of carrying out these 
practical tests and the results, were briefly as follows: 

Class 1. — Heolthy herds treated for the purpose of protection 
against hog cholera which existed on nearl)y farms. In each herd 
a certain number of hogs were not treated, but were left to serve as 
controls. In most of the herds in this class the disease did not ap- 
pear in either the treated hogs or the controls. Iti a few of these 

1 Not furnished. 



22 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES, 

herds, however, hog cholera appeared, some weeks after vaccina- 
tion, among the controls, the average loss bevng 68 per cent of the 
unti-eated controls, while of the treated hogs in the same herd asso- 
ciating with the sick control animals, none died. 

Class .<?.— Herds which had been ex])osed to disease through the 
entrance of a sick hog from a neighboring diseased iK^rd, but at the 
time of treatment were ap])arently well. In these exposed herds 
4 Y>or cent of the treated hogs died, while morc^ than S<) ])er cent of 
the untreated control animals succumbed. 

Class 3. — Herds in which hog holera existed at the time of treat- 
ment. In these herds the effort was made to treat only those herds 
where disease liad not progressed very far, as past experience had 
shown that the serum was essentially a ]irotective agent rather than a 
cure. As a general rule, this third class of herds contained com])ara- 
tively few visibly sick hogs, but yet a sufficient number to show 
clearly that hog cholera was present, this being confii-med by post- 
mortem examination in each case. In these sick herds 13 per cent of 
those that received the serum were lost, whereas of the untreated 
control animals, 75 per cent died. 

The success of these ])ractical tests, following the uniformly good 
results obtained in the previous experimental work, was sufficient to 
show that in this new serum the (lepartment j^iossessed a substance 
which could be utilized to reduce, if not ultimately to entirely elimi- 
nate, losses from hog cholera. Therefore a notice of the de])arrment's 
findings was sent to each of the States of the Union, inviting these 
States to send a representative to the small experimental farm main- 
tained by the department in Iowa in order that such representatives 
might observe the methods of serum production in actual operation 
and have explained to them the exact methods of application. Rep- 
resentatives of 25 States responded to this suggestion for a conference 
and had explained to them the departmental methods. These con- 
fer(MU'es with State officers M'ere carried out during the year 1908. 
Since that time the de])artment has continued its investigations 
uninterru]itedly. the work Ix'ing directed along two lines, namely, 
(1) laboi-atorv investigations and (2) field demonstrations. 

The recent laboratory investigations have resulted in the cheapen- 
ing of the serum by the development of the intravenous method of 
hyperimmunization. The serum is now being produced at a cost of 
1 cent per cubic centimeter, or from 15 to 40 cents for each hog. It 
has further been determined that the common disinfectants, such as 
carbolic acid and l)ichloride of mercury, are not effective against the 
virus of hog cholera. A cheap and effective disinfectant has been 
found, however, in the coiu])ound solution of cresol. The fact that 
the virus is resistant to carbolic acid is now being utilized to pre- 
serve virus for simultaiu^ous inoculations in practice, as first sug- 
gested by the dei)artment. the addition of a small proportion of 
carbolic acid to virulent blood having the effer-t of preserving the 
blood from decomj)osition without affecting its virulence. The 
laboi'atorv investigations are being continued, the ])rin(ipal objects 
aimed at being the further improvement of the ])rocess of serum pro- 
duction and the artificial cultivation of the virus of \h g cholera. 

Prior to the present fiscal year tiie held demonstratioi^s have been 
few in number and re^tiicte 1 in extent owing to a lack of funds. 
The last Congress np))roi)riate;l the sum of S75.000 to enable the 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 23 

Secretary of Agriculture to demonstrate the best methods of con- 
trollmg and eradicating hog cholera. Although this appropriation 
became available on July 1, 1913, much unavoidable delay was 
experienced in instituting the actual work and in getting tiie demon- 
strations organized in an orderly manner. It was necessary in the 
first place to largely increase the capacity of the serum-producing 
plant of the department,, and it was furthermore necessary to place 
a force of inspectors in each of the field areas where the experiments 
were to be carried out. The organization of the farmers in each 
area, which is one of the prime essentials to success, has taken much 
time, and it is only now, about four months after the actual beginning 
of the work, that the experimental areas are so organized as to per- 
mit of the most efficient work beuig done. 

\Vliile the dela}^ incident to the inauguration of the work has been 
considerable, this preliminary work has placed the de|)artment in a 
position where it should be able to successfully cope with the disease 
during the ensuing fiscal year, if this work is continued by Congress. 

The following plan of carrying out these demonstration experi- 
ments has been adopted and the work inaugurated in four States, 
namely, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, and Nebraska. Thp work in 
Nebraska is only just begun. The work in Iowa and Indiana began 
on July 1, and in Missouri about August 1. 

PLAN FOR DEMONSTRATING THE BEST METHODS OF CONTROLLING 

HOG CHOLERA, 

METHOD OF PROCEDURE. 

I, Educational work: To be carried out jointly by Federal and 
State officials through lectures and demonstrations before farmers' 
clubs and special assemblages. 

II, Restrictive regulations and quarantine: Restrictive regula- 
tions should be issued by State authorities and enforced by State 
officers and United States employees deputized for the purpose. 

III. Immunization with serum: This work is to be under control 
of employees of the Bureau of Animal Industry, and serum is to be 
administered at such places and in such manner as they may decide 
to be necessary. 

IV. Serum production: Antihog-cholera serum sufficient for the 
work to be pre|)ared by the Bureau of Animal Industry and furnished 
to the United States field mspectors upon request. 

ORGANIZATION. 

I, Admmistrative: The general administration of the work to be 
under the general direction of the Chief of the Bureau of Animal 
Industry, United States Department of Agriculture. 

II. United States Department of Agriculture: (a) Field force- 
one supervising field inspector and advisor, the force in each State to 
be an independent unit reporting direct to the Chief of the Bureau of 
Animal Industry and is to consist of one inspector in charge, one or 
more veterinary inspectors, and one clerk; (h) laboratory force — one 
inspector m charge with the necessary scientific assistants, clerks, and 
laborers to prepare sufficient serum to supply the various field 
inspectors. 



24 BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLERA PLAGUES. 

III. Nondo])iirtmontal: («) Stntc cfficinls — ns many trained em- 
ployoos as the State ran furnish for field work and lectures; (b) vol- 
unteer assistants — as many bitelligent farmers as can be secured for 
general cooperation to be chosen jointly by the United States field 
ins]>ectors in charge and authorized State representatives. 

COOPERATION. 

Generally the following priiici))les are to be observed: 

1 . The preparation and application of serum will be under- con- 
trol of Feaeral officials. 

2. Necessary quarantine and other restrictive measures to be 
imder control of the proper State officials. 

3. Educational work to be carried out jointly by Federal, State, 
and county representatives. 

The practical results of the department's investigations are best 
shown by the fact that the protective serum described herein is now 
recognized, not alone in the United States but in foreim countries 
as well, as the only effective means of preventing hog cnolera. 

Thirty of our States are engaged in the preparation and dis- 
tribution of the serum to farmers, and millions of hogs have been 
successfully treated. It is to be regretted that reports from all 
States that are distributing this serum are not available at this 
time; nevertheless an idea of the saving which has ah'eady been 
effected through the use of this serum may be gained from state- 
ments recently made by officers of three States engaged in the pro- 
duction and (Ustribution of the antihog-cholera serum. 

(1) A recent letter from the professor of veterinary science, 
Kansas Agricultural College, who is in charge of hog-cholera-serum 
production in the State of Kansas, contains the following state- 
ments : 

I estimate that the average dose has been iti the neighborhood of oO cubic c-euti- 
meters per hog, which gives as a result approximately 275,000 head of hogs vaccinated 
by the simultaneous method and 275,000 vaccinated with the serum alone. I esti- 
mate that under the conditions and the general infection of this State a conserva- 
tive estimate of the number of hogs saved through vaccination would be at least 
half of the number vaccinated, or 275,000. This is certainly a conservative estimate. 

Estimating the value of these hogs at $10 each, there is indicated 
a saving to the farmers of Kansas of about $2,750,000. 

(2) The State veterinarian of Ohio writes as follows: 

It is my opinion that at least 50 per cent of the animals in infected herds were 
saved by the serum, and I believe, further, that this is a very low estimate. Taking 
this as a basis, then, we have the following: Of the total number of swine treated to 
date (313,000) 72 per cent, or 225,360 swine, were in infected herds. It is reasonable 
to assume that at least two-thirds of these would have died from the effects of disease 
had they not been treated with serum. In other words, there would have been a 
loss of 150,240 swine with an average value of at least $10, or $1,502,400. This does 
not take into account the healthy herds which were treated, nor does it take into 
account the extra value of the large per cent of pure-bred or registered herds. 

(3) The following statement is taken from the report of the col- 
lege of agricultiu-o and the agricidtural experiment station of the 
University of California from July 1, 1912. to June 30, 1913: 

A conservative estimate of the number of hogs saved by the antihog-cholera serum 
is .30,000 head. The cost of the serum to farmers, in addition to that distributed free 
as ])ro\aded by law, has been about $33,000. Estimating the average value of a hog 
in California at .$9.20, the protection provided these 30,000 hogs has meant a .saving to 



BOLL WEEVIL AND HOG CHOLEEA PLAGUES. 



25 



the ranchers of at least $240,000. This does not include the profits resulting from the 
breeding and profitable feeding of the hogs saved. 

If in all cases the serum had been used as the station recommends — that is, before 
the disease had gained entrance to the herds — then 99 per cent of all hogs owned by 
these farmers would probably have lived instead of only 50 per cent of the untreated 
hogs and 91.3 per rent of the treated; that is, about $350,000 would have been saved 
in addition to the $240,000 mentioned above. 

The above instances are submitted not as exceptions but as exam- 
ples of what is being accomplished through the use of this serum. 

The oreat problem now before the department and the States is 
the utilization of the serum in such a w^ay as to effectively control 
the disease. 

STATEMENT OF THE MONEY EXPENDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPART- 
MENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE STUDY OF HOG CHOLERA. 

Prior to the fiscal year 1887, the expenditures of the Bureau of 
Animal Industry were not classified in detail, or, if kept in detail at 
that time, the records are not now to be found. It appears, further, 
that ahhough the records for the years 1887, 1888, 1895, 1896, and 
1897 show expenditures for various lines of work, there isliothing to 
indicate the amount of money, if an};, expended on hog cholera 
during those years. 



1887 (1) 

1888 (1) 

1889 $14, 844. 71 

1890 5,543.68 

1891 6,897.20 

1892 6,916.38 

1893 5, 774. 13 

1894 5,023.05 



n 
{') 
(') 

17, 123. 54 
17, 787. 29 
1900 27, 647. 91 



1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 



1901 $14, 333. 39 

1902 9,75L26 

1903.- 8,41L32 

1904 8,345.12 

1905 5,920.20 

1906 ,. 4,597.63 

1907 7,567.86 

1908 10,06L99 

1909 5,308.76 

1910 10,339.82 

1911 12,219.40 

1912 12,005.60 

1913 13,198.06 



The above statement shows that the sum of $229,418.30 has been 
expended by the department from 1889 to 1913, inclusive. From 
1904 to 1913 the sum of $89,564.32 was expended, thus indicating an 
average expenditure on hog cholera for the last, 10 years of $8,956.43. 



1 Not segregated. 



o 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




